Inns of Court finishes 2nd in France

Inns Of Court was collared in the closing stages to come home second in the six-furlong G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Maisons-Laffitte, France, on Saturday.

The Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old, carrying a G2 penalty following his success in the Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly in June, broke well for Mickael Barzalona and led the six runners down the stands’ rail.

Inns Of Court stayed on but was headed inside the final half-furlong by King Malpic, who went on to score by three-quarters of a length in 1m 11.10s on good ground, with a further length and three-quarters back to Gold Vibe in third.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Inns Of Court was giving weight to King Malpic, who is a talented sprinter and came into the race in good form.

“This was a prep-race for Inns Of Court ahead of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (6.5f, Sunday, 4 August) and the main priority is that he comes out of this race well enough to take up that engagement.”

Meanwhile, Platinum Star continued a bright start to his career when just failing to get up by a short-head in the G2 July Stakes on day one of Newmarket’s July Festival.

The two-year-old colt, returning to six furlongs for trainer Saeed bin Suroor after filling the runner-up spot in the five-furlong Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, broke slowly and soon raced a close last of the seven runners.

He was asked to move up and challenge by Harry Bentley with a quarter-mile remaining and ran on strongly in the final furlong. Platinum Star took second from Visinari close home and nearly caught the winner Royal Lytham, who just held on in a photo finish in 1m 11.16s on good to firm ground.

Saeed Bin Suroor said: “Platinum Star ran another excellent race and I am very happy with his performance.

“He has been second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and second again today. He tries hard.

“He has plenty of options, including heading to Glorious Goodwood for either the Richmond Stakes (G2, 6f, Aug.1) or Vintage Stakes (G2, 7f, July 30), or going out to Ireland for the G1 Phoenix Stakes.

“We will see how he comes out of this race before making a decision about his next race, but he looks a nice colt for the future.”

Final Song ran another fine race at G2 level when coming home third to Raffle Prize in the six-furlong Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on day two of the July Festival at Newmarket.

The two-year-old Dark Angel filly, who filled the same position behind Raffle Prize in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes over a furlong less at Royal Ascot, broke smartly for Ryan Moore and was a close third before moving up to dispute second after the first quarter-mile.

Final Song, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, ran on to go second with a furlong and a half remaining and held every chance, but could not make an impression on Raffle Prize and was passed by Daahyeh in the closing stages.

Raffle Prize, a Slade Power filly owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, made all to win by a length and three-quarters from G3 Albany Stakes scorer Daahyeh in a new course record time of 1m 9.09s on good to firm ground, with a head back to Final Song.